Entries for April 2015

Jean Sharon Abbott was diagnosed with Cerebral Palsy when she was a child. She endured needless, invasive and life changing surgeries, and was unable to fully function for 33 years. It wasn't until she saw a new neurologist, at the age of 33, that she was given a new diagnosis that gave her the ability to do things she had never been able to do. Jean's life is a great example of ...

Cristina Might and her son, Bertrand, gathered with Governor Herbert as he signed a new Utah law that could extend or save the lives of terminally ill patients. The new "Right to Try" legislation allows patients to search for treatments that are not completely approved by the federal government. Bertrand, who is 7 years old, was diagnosed with a rare genetic disease called NGYL1. &nbsp...

Nature News published an article written by Colin Macilwain regarding the cancer conversation. In it, he addresses the fact that the "war on cancer" efforts has gotten off track and we must come back to the best interest of the patients. We have chased incorrect therapies for various cancers, wasted millions of dollars on drug treatments that are ineffective, and have failed to lo...

The National Institute of Mental Health, part of the NIH, is working on figuring out genes associated with mental illness so they can develop new treatments based on genomic data that is found. Early diagnosis for mental health would greatly affect the outcome on many levels for an individual and our society and it could allow patients to lead more productive lives. To read the full ar...

Rare Disease week has illustrated the advancements that have been made in awareness toward Rare Disease, but we are still lacking treatments. This is another example of the need for increased funding to the NIH, so that we can move toward more diagnosis and, ultimately, treatments. To read Pharmexec article, written by patient advocate Steve Smith, copy and paste url : http://www...

Harold Varmus has left the National Cancer Institute at the NIH at 75 years of age. He talks to the New York Times about his experiences, his healthy life style, and his concerns on the lack of funding for the NIH. I am equally as concerned as I continue to watch funding decrease, knowing that lives are at stack as we await more scientific advancements. To read the New York Times...